Toronto's Foremost
Youth Climate
Action Summit
November 21, 2026
About
We are excited to once again co-host the Toronto Area Youth Climate Action Summit for Grade 7 to 12 students on Saturday, November 21st at Upper Canada College. This is a student-led summit for students and their adult allies who want to catalyze bold climate and Nature action.
The theme for this year's event is Turning Over a New Leaf, with an emphasis on moving beyond discussion into whole-school action. To turn over a new leaf means to start behaving in a better way, and this year we want every attendee to learn about new innovations and everyday habits that are kinder to the planet, and to dream about the change they could make. Look forward to inspiring keynote speakers, hands-on workshops, and the chance to connect with others who share the goal of turning over a new leaf for a better world.
Have a question about the summit or bringing your school? We'd love to hear from you.
Conference
Keynote speaker
John Marshall, Founder and Executive Chair of Potential Energy Coalition, is our keynote speaker. John has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of strategy, communication and social change. Today he leads Potential Energy Coalition, a nonprofit focused on finding more effective ways to talk about climate change and inspire meaningful public action.
How do we turn awareness into action?
His work asks an important question for climate leaders of every generation. Drawing on research, storytelling and real-world experience, John will challenge students, and everyone else in the room, to think differently about how ideas spread, how people are motivated, and how young people can help build momentum for climate solutions.
Panel of leaders
Creating a more sustainable future takes new ideas, different approaches, and people willing to use their influence to make change happen. This panel brings together changemakers from sustainable business, philanthropy, agriculture and the circular economy to explore how we can rethink systems, challenge the status quo, and turn our spheres of influence into action.
- Toby Heaps, Co-founder and CEO of Corporate Knights, a leading voice in sustainable business and the transition to a more sustainable economy.
- Joannah Lawson, Co-founder of the Brian & Joannah Lawson Family Foundation, supporting climate action, sustainability, regenerative agriculture and sustainable food systems.
- Scott Morrison, Co-founder of Dream Zero and Regional Director, Canada for Muuse, helping make reusable packaging a practical alternative to single-use waste.
Skill-building workshops
Participants will choose two workshops through the day, led by a range of experts. Topics include everything from Beekeeping and Addressing Microplastics to Reimagining Food Systems and Harnessing Your Leadership Power. Check back for more details in the coming weeks.
Student showcase and networking
We invite all participating students and schools to set up a display in the Student Centre highlighting their climate and environmental action. You can book a table when you register.
See our working draft schedule for the day, still subject to some changes.
Registration
per person, which includes lunch, snacks, and a great day full of speakers and workshops.
DoorNumberOne.org and UCC are committed to making sure financial circumstances don't prevent any student from attending. Apply for financial support and we'll respond within 7 school days of receiving your form.
Upper Canada College
200 Lonsdale Road, Toronto, Ontario
Follow us on Instagram: @youthclimateactionsummit, @ucc_sustainability and @DoorNumberOneNFP.
Find more information at doornumberone.org/2026-youth-climate-action-summit/the DoorNumberOne.org event page